Exercise Plays an Essential Role in Weight Management

Food may have less to do with weight management, while exercise may have a lot!

Weight Management and Physical Activity

In a recent article in the American Journal of Medicine, “Obesity, Abdominal Obesity, Physical Activity, and Caloric Intake in US Adults: 1988 to 2010,” researchers found that while rates of obesity climbed, caloricintake did not change significantly over time for women or men, but the number of Americans who reported engaging in no leisure-time physical activity tripled, from 15.3% to 47.6%. This led the authors to conclude that physical activity is integral in obesity reduction.

The take away message for us is that promoting physical activity in children will help to prevent obesity. Getting enough physical activity can be difficult for some children with special needs. Lack of coordination, clumsiness, and lack of skill can contribute to a child feeling insecure and fearful to participate with their peers at.

Getting Active is Essential for Development

Skill development in a nurturing environment and therapy to address underlying impairments are ways to bolster confidence and participation during recess, PE, and play time.

Once a child develops skills such as the balance
that they need to ride a scooter, coordination for how to shoot a basketball, or strength to catch a football they develop greater confidence to participate with their peers which expands their horizons socially and puts them on the track to developing a lifelong healthy habits. The benefits of enjoying physical activity have implications across a lifespan.

Our country is on a mission to bring exercise and healthy living to young students. Check out this site for more information about the initiative.